Enver Motala, the liquidator of Aurora Empowerment Systems, brushed off concerns that the company had stopped pumping underground water at its Grootvlei operations in the East Rand a week ago as “nothing to worry about”.
The pumps are important to keep acid mine drainage, or polluted underground water from old mines, under control. The Mail & Guardian reported that the controversial company had ceased to pump rising underground water last Friday, and unless it came up with at least R20 million quickly the mine would close.
Motala said Aurora had stopped pumping because pumping stations were being refurbished for the past week.
“Pumps at the pumping stations have not been maintained adequately, and the company has to reinstall a new pump at a cost of between R20m and R50m,” Motala said.
He said the Departments of Mineral Resources and Water Affairs had given the installation of the pumps a thumbs up.
“There is nothing to worry about, it will take six months for the water to cause damage. Once the pump starts, water levels will be reduced… we have technical experts, including officials from the Department of Water Affairs, who have visited the site and they are happy with the work that is being done.”
Solidarity spokesman Gideon Du Plessis criticised Motala for being naive for thinking there was nothing to worry about.
He said Aurora had indicated it needed to pump out 106 megalitres of underground water every day.
“If a liquidator is not concerned, I can understand because mining is not their core business. The general state of Grootvlei is deteriorating, and there is a high risk of collapse,” said Du Plessis.
“We are extremely concerned, I mean logic tells you that Aurora will flood the area and neighbouring mines, because water levels are rising by 40cm to 50cm” a week.
Department of Water Affairs spokesman Sputnik Ratau confirmed that officials had visited the site for monitoring and were comfortable with the work done by Aurora.
“Once the pumps have been replaced pumping of water will be up to scratch. There is no danger of flooding yet,” said Ratau.
Aurora is owned by Zondwa Mandela, a grandson of Nelson Mandela, and Khulubuse Zuma, a nephew of President Jacob Zuma. - Dineo Matomela